The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-14
Old Glen; a True Story.

very homcly, sorrel old lady, with
white stripe in her face, short and thin
tail and name, and form and canter
that was not very graceful
But she was getting old and bent.
She had helped break the new
land in the prairie home, and she and
her mate, Jen, had carried loads and
loads of grain and hogs to market
They had worked hard but cheer
fully for many years. Jen had
died and left Glen. who, in her old age,
was very kindly treated, and became a
great family pet. She went about the
farm and yard just as she pleased, and
even put her head in at the back
door, as if to say, "IIow do you doP"
When Laura or Mile or Brother
Henry went over the river for the mail,
which came Tuesdays and Fridays, old
Glen was brought round to the horse
block and saddled for them, as she was
so trusty. When the river was high
they went round by the road, which was
some three miles, but ii it was low, old
Glen took them through the ford
safely, only stopping to drink and
splash the cool water with her feet.
One day in the spring, when the
river was quite high, an older sister,
Stella, put the mailbag, made out OF
stout cloth, on the horn of the saddle
and went for the mail. She made one
Or two calls, and started for home. As
she neared the rivet she saw that it
had risen, and that the long low flat
with its four small bridges was all
under water, and only the big bridge IN
the distance could DO seen. Though
the road was thus full of danger, Stella
felt that she must get home that night.
So she put her feet up under her, as
the water would touch them if they
hung down, and fixing the bag of letters
around her neck, she told old Glen to
do her best to find the way.
Dear old Glen! how brave and true
she was, for she went slowly, but sure
ly and safely, through the flood, and
when they reached the big bridge, be-
You'd all danger, Stella laid her head
on old Glen's neck and cried for Joy,
and patted her as she stood and rested
This of course. made Glen and her
rider heroes; but this was when Glen
was young, and, rs | have told you, the
children did not forget her brave and
good deeds when she got to be old.
At last she fell sick and the family
seemed to feel as badly as though the
old horse were some near and dear
friend. Laura and Mile went TO the
stable every little while to see how she
was, and to pet and talk 10 her, but
she only grew worse, and their father
told them she would never get well,
she was so old and worn.
The older brothers then took her out
in the grove beyond the barn and made
her soft bed in the leaves.
wish you could have seen Laura
and Mile as they sat there together, or
took turns in watching their sick friend.
They did this day after day, keeping the
flies and bugs off from her with green
oak bough, while the boys looked after
her nights. 1t was very touching
sight
But love and kindness could not
make old Glen get well, and one day
Just at dusk she died. The little girls
were with her at the time, and wept as
though their hearts would break; it
was their first sight of death. They
sat there long time and then covered
her with green leaves for the night and
went to the house to tell their mother
the sad news
The next day she was buried in the
grave, and many tear fell on her
grave.
This was many years ago, and Laura
and Mile are now young ladies, but If
you could visit them in Iowa, they
would show you grave, and at its
head, board. marked,
DEAR OLD GLEN"
Wouldn't IL be nice If all old horses
and folks could have such good care
when they get old and sickP-Estelle
4enddH, in Good Cheer.
Florida in Y1yil